High pitched noise from pc

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EviLClouD

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#306420 21-Jul-2023 08:43

Hey all,

My PC started making this high pitched 'whirring' noise on startup.

Here's a video of the sound

It happens only occasionally and only during start up.

I believe it may be linked to the case fan as the noise usually goes away once the rear exhaust fan starts spinning.

Does anyone know what the cause of this is and how to resolve it?

It's only started happening since I updated the BIOS.

Thanks in advance

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#3106543 21-Jul-2023 09:55

i cant hear anything?

but that fan is awfully slow to start spinning

gehenna

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#3106598 21-Jul-2023 10:33

Coil whine?

SpartanVXL

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#3106604 21-Jul-2023 10:54

Fan might be stuck, the whining you hear may be the motor trying to spin it forcefully.

You can test by unplugging temporarily or push starting it with a finger. To fix it you’ll need to take it apart and see why it’s getting stuck. Or replace it, up to you.

EviLClouD

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Ultimate Geek

#3106642 21-Jul-2023 13:31

Yea it actually takes longer than whats recorded in the video - it's almost as if the fan only starts spinning once i'm logged into windows...is there a setting in the bios that controls when the fan turns on/off?

PSU or fan coil whine?

I've unplugged it to test a couple of times and i didn't get any whine noises with that fan unplugged. I'm unsure as to what could be causing it to be stuck if it spins freely on it's on (eventually)

robjg63

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#3106643 21-Jul-2023 13:37

I can't really hear anything - but then my hearing is shot. 😕

If it is a new noise, then that's something to investigate - but PCs often spin the fans up a bit faster when they first start - I gather maybe its to help remove dust build up?

I do have a PC that sometimes makes an awful noise when it starts up, but only if its left switched off for a while - though it normally this PC just runs all the time so this doesnt happen often.

It is the rear exhaust fan like the one in your video as far as far as I can see.

I assumed that it was just the bearings wearing out as the PC is getting on a bit.

I had cleaned the dust etc from the fan - so it is always clean - dust can cause out of balance fans which will make noise.

You could just disconnect it for a few minutes and start it up and see if that is the problem.

Those case fans are easy enough to replace - but be warned that some of the cheaper ones can be pretty noisey - carefully consider the dB rating.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Jase2985

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#3106644 21-Jul-2023 13:38

replace the fan they can be had for $10-20

tehgerbil

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#3106647 21-Jul-2023 13:49

Is it the sound that sounds not dissimilar to a dial up modem or really high pitched bagpipes before the fan starts?

That's 100% coil whine.

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#3107397 24-Jul-2023 00:48

Just a quick comment that probably isn't related. I have found with many PSUs now that the capacitors can start to make a very high pitched sound. I presume its the electrolytic capacitors. Many motherboards etc. these days have aluminium capacitors which are more hardy and don't die/make high pitched noises.

Speedtest 2019-10-14

gehenna

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#3107422 24-Jul-2023 08:03

Coil whine is super annoying. Needs industry focus. I don't spend $$$ on components to build a PC every few years only to hear a noise coming from it all the time.

EviLClouD

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3108680 27-Jul-2023 10:12

Just an update - replaced the fan with a known working one and it still doesn't work properly. The high pitched noise isnt as prominent but the fan also doesn't spin sometimes. It's almost as if it stays off.

All the other pc fans spin normally (CPU fan and intake fan)

Any other suggestions on what I can test?

gehenna

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#3108694 27-Jul-2023 10:42

If it is coil whine it won't be a fan, it'll be an inductor inside one of the components like the graphics card or motherboard etc.

EviLClouD

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Ultimate Geek

#3108698 27-Jul-2023 10:48

gehenna:

If it is coil whine it won't be a fan, it'll be an inductor inside one of the components like the graphics card or motherboard etc.

It's definitely the rear exhaust fan. On the original installed fan i watched it 'twitch' and whine and eventually when it started spinning the noise went away...

gehenna

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#3108718 27-Jul-2023 11:07

tried a different fan header on the motherboard?

Oblivian

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#3108751 27-Jul-2023 12:58

A BIOS set to alarm on no fan + fan speed control can make fans not need to start at boot temp, then moan via pezo that it's got no fan...

Just a thought (constant beep while fan not going heard as a noise?..)

Way to test is turn off smart fan, enable always on. Or kill the warning settings (temporarily!)

Jase2985

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#3108752 27-Jul-2023 12:59

check you dont have any silent fan profiles on the PC, which could be set to a speed lower than the fan is able to start at, and its trying to start but cant and causing the noise

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